Prebiotic oral care methods using a saccharide

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to methods of enhancing beneficial oral bacteria and decreasing harmful oral bacteria comprising administering oral care compositions comprising a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myoinositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine; and oral care compositions for use in such methods. The disclosure also relates to methods of using prebiotic oral care compositions, methods of screening, and methods of manufacture.

FIELD

The field relates to methods of enhancing beneficial oral bacteria and decreasing harmful oral bacteria comprising administering oral care compositions comprising a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine; and oral care compositions for use in such methods. The field also relates to methods of using prebiotic oral care compositions, methods of screening, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Different types of sugar are present in our diet and come into contact with plaque during eating. The breakdown of sugars is an important step that influences the plaque environment. Sugar metabolism requires specific enzymes. The genetic disposition and expression of pathway dictates which strains are able to grow on which type of sugars.

The occurrence of high amount of certain sugar may provide a selection advantage to certain species over others, simply due to the fact that they are able to grow on the metabolite but also due to effects that influence the environment such as acid production, bacteriocins, and/or breakdown products that may be metabolized by further species.

When there is an increase in the intake of certain fermentable carbohydrates, this may cause pH to drop in a user's oral cavity. Not only does the acid damage the teeth, but the acidic environment causes a shift toward a more aciduric and acidogenic bacterial, and certain cariogenic bacteria, which are typically found in relatively small amounts, may actually increase in number and size. Ultimately, this can lead to dental caries. Some species of oral pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) have been implicated in the development of periodontal diseases such as periodontitis, gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis, necrotizing gingivitis and peri-implantitis. Certain species of oral pathogenic bacteria have been implicated in tooth decay (e.g. Streptococcus mutans). Current strategies to address these problems include the use of oral care products containing broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Such product, however, can inhibit or kill bacteria irrespective of whether the bacteria are beneficial or detrimental. Moreover, pathogens may evolve to develop resistance to antimicrobial agents. Accordingly, alternative methods of prophylaxis and treatment are needed.

“Probiotics” are microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed. “Prebiotics” are ingestible ingredients that allow specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microflora that confer benefits upon host well-being and health. While prebiotics are generally known for influencing the composition of the gastrointestinal microflora, there has been little attention directed to using a similar prebiotic strategy to encourage beneficial oral bacteria. Rather than trying to stimulate beneficial bacteria in the mouth, the emphasis has been on avoiding and promptly removing compounds, like sucrose, that encourage harmful oral bacteria.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We considered that a prebiotic approach, to provide selective stimulation of beneficial bacteria, could provide a valid preventive approach for oral health. Since different bacteria need different substrates in order to grow, providing appropriate substrates could promote growth of beneficial bacterial population, while an increase in beneficial bacteria could result in the suppression of certain pathogenic bacteria. We tested a large number of sugar derivatives to identify substrates that would selectively favor the growth of beneficial bacteria while directly or indirectly suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria.

Oral care compositions comprising a saccharide prebiotic identified in this manner, e.g., saccharide prebiotics selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, and combinations thereof, are found to increase the growth of beneficial bacteria. Such beneficial bacteria include, e.g,: Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii. These selected saccharide prebiotics that encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria also negatively affect the growth of certain pathogenic strains of bacteria. These pathogenic strains include, e.g.,: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.

The present invention contemplates that selective stimulation of beneficial bacteria provides a valid preventive approach for oral health. Without being bound by any theory, it is thought that since bacteria need certain substrates in order to grow, one can obtain certain microbiological shifts in the bacterial environment by selectively encouraging the growth of an individual's beneficial endogenous bacterial population by providing them with appropriate substrates. For example, without being bound by theory, select substrates are preferentially utilized by certain microorganisms. By selecting the appropriate substrate, it is possible encourage the growth of certain microorganisms (e.g., beneficial endogenous bacterial strains) while also directly or indirectly suppressing the growth of select other microorganisms (endogenous pathogenic bacterial strains).

In one aspect, the invention relates to a novel prebiotic approach that selectively promotes the growth of beneficial endogenous bacteria but not the growth of harmful bacteria by using an oral care composition comprising a prebiotically effective amount of a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, and combinations thereof. For example, this may include use of compositions which promote the growth of at least one of the above-listed beneficial bacteria while not simultaneously promoting growth of any of the above-listed harmful bacteria.

An oral care composition (Composition 1) useful in the methods of the present invention is an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., in an amount effective to promote the growth of beneficial endogenous bacteria in the oral cavity. For example, in various aspects the oral care compositions useful in the methods of the present invention include:

1.1 Composition 1, wherein the saccharide prebiotic is a mono-, di- or tri-saccharide, e.g., selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, and mixtures thereof.

1.2 Composition 1, wherein the saccharide prebiotic is a disaccharide, e.g., D-turanose.

1.3 Composition 1, wherein the saccharide prebiotic is a sugar alcohol, e.g., D-lactitol or myo-inositol.

1.4 Composition 1, wherein the saccharide prebiotic is an amino sugar, e.g., N-acetyl-D-mannosamine.

1.5 Composition 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is D-turanose.

1.6 Composition 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is D-lactitol.

1.7 Composition 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is myo-inositol.

1.8 Composition 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is N-acetyl-D-mannosamine.

1.9 Composition 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is D-melezitose.

1.10 Any foregoing composition wherein the amount of saccharide prebiotic is at least 0.1%, e.g., 0.1% to 5%, e.g., about 0.5%, 1% or 2% by weight of the composition.

1.11 Any foregoing composition wherein the amount of saccharide prebiotic is from 1 μmol/ml to 50 μmol/ml, from 2.5 μmol/ml to 35 μmol/ml, from 5 μmol/ml to 25 μmol/ml, from 10 μmol/ml to 25 μmol/ml, from 20 μmol/ml to 25 μmol/ml, about 5 μmol/ml, about 10 μmol/ml, about 20 μmol/ml or about 25 μmol/ml.

1.12 Any foregoing composition wherein the saccharide prebiotic is not derived from a plant extract.

1.13 Any foregoing composition wherein the composition promotes the growth in the oral cavity of one or more beneficial endogenous bacterial species, wherein said species are one or more selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii.

1.14 Any foregoing composition wherein in the composition promotes the growth of Streptococcus salivarius.

1.15 Any foregoing composition, wherein the composition negatively affects the growth in the oral cavity of one or more pathogenic bacterial species, wherein said species are one or more selected from the group consisting of: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.

1.16 Any foregoing composition wherein the composition further comprises at least one species of bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health.

1.17 Composition 1.16 wherein the species of bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is selected from Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Actinomyces naeslundii and combinations thereof.

1.18 Any of the preceding compositions further comprising an anti-calculus agent.

1.19 Any of the preceding compositions further comprising an anti-calculus agent which is a polyphosphate, e.g., pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate, or hexametaphosphate, e.g., in sodium salt form.

1.20 Any of the preceding compositions comprising at least one surfactant selected from sodium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, and combinations thereof.

1.21 Any of the preceding compositions comprising an anionic surfactant, e.g., selected from sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and mixtures thereof

1.22 Any of the preceding compositions comprising sodium lauryl sulfate, in an amount from 0.5-3% by wt of the composition.

1.23 Any of the preceding compositions comprising at least one humectant.

1.24 Any of the preceding compositions comprising at least one humectant selected from glycerin, sorbitol and combinations thereof.

1.25 Any of the preceding compositions comprising at least one polymer.

1.26 Any of the preceding compositions comprising at least one polymer selected from polyethylene glycols, polyvinylmethyl ether maleic acid copolymers, polysaccharides (e.g., cellulose derivatives, for example carboxymethyl cellulose, or polysaccharide gums, for example xanthan gum or carrageenan gum), and combinations thereof.

1.27 Any of the preceding compositions comprising one or more abrasives, e.g., silica, calcium carbonate, or calcium phosphate abrasives.

1.28 Any of the preceding compositions comprising gum strips or fragments.

1.29 Any of the preceding compositions comprising flavoring, fragrance and/or coloring.

1.30 Any composition obtained or obtainable by combining the ingredients as set forth in any of the preceding compositions.

1.31 Any of the preceding oral care compositions, wherein the composition is a mouthwash, toothpaste, tooth gel, tooth powder, non-abrasive gel, mousse, foam, mouth spray, lozenge, oral tablet, dental implement, or pet care product.

1.32 Any of the preceding compositions wherein the composition is a toothpaste or a mouthwash.

1.33 Any of the preceding compositions wherein the composition is a toothpaste optionally further comprising one or more of one or more of water, abrasives, surfactants, foaming agents, vitamins, polymers, enzymes, humectants, thickeners, preservatives, flavorings, colorings and/or combinations thereof.

1.34 Any preceding composition, wherein the composition is a toothpaste further comprising water, abrasive, surfactant, humectant, thickener, and flavoring.

1.35 Any preceding composition wherein the composition is a toothpaste obtained or obtainable by a method of mixing with a toothpaste base, e.g., a toothpaste base comprising one or more of one or more of water, abrasives, surfactants, foaming agents, vitamins, polymers, enzymes, humectants, thickeners, antimicrobial agents, preservatives, flavorings, colorings and/or combinations thereof.

1.36 Any preceding composition for use in selectively promoting, in an oral cavity: growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria.

1.37 Composition 1.36 wherein the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health are selected from Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii.

1.38 Composition 1.37 wherein the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health are selected from Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis and Streptococcus mitis.

1.39 Composition 1.38 wherein the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health is Streptococcus salivarius or Streptococcus mitis.

1.40 Composition 1.39 wherein the bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is Streptococcus salivarius.

1.41 Composition 1.39 wherein the bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is Streptococcus mitis.

1.42 Any of compositions 1.36 to 1.41 wherein the pathogenic oral bacteria are selected from Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.

1.43 Composition 1.42 wherein the pathogenic oral bacteria are selected from Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.

1.44 Composition 1.43 wherein the pathogenic oral bacteria are selected from Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia and Streptococcus sobrinus

1.45 Any of compositions 1.36 to 1.44, wherein the composition selectively promotes growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria, after 24 hours incubation with the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health and the pathogenic oral bacteria.

1.46 Any of compositions 1.36 to 1.45, wherein the composition selectively promotes growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria, after 48 hours incubation with the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health and the pathogenic oral bacteria.

1.47 Any preceding composition for use in selectively promoting, in an oral cavity, biofilm formation by bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to biofilm formation by pathogenic oral bacteria.

1.48 Composition 1.47 wherein the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health are selected from Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii.

1.49 Composition 1.48 wherein the bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health are selected from Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius and Streptococcus sanguinis.

1.50 Composition 1.49 wherein the bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is Streptococcus sanguinis.

1.51 Composition 1.49 wherein the bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is Streptococcus salivarius.

1.52 Composition 1.49 wherein the bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is Streptococcus mitis.

1.53 Any of compositions 1.47 to 1.52 wherein the pathogenic oral bacteria are selected from Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus sobrinus.

1.54 Composition 1.53 wherein the pathogenic oral bacteria are selected from Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

1.55 Composition 1.54 wherein the pathogenic oral bacteria are selected from Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

For example, the invention provides in one embodiment, an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq. for use in selectively promoting, in an oral cavity: growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria.

For example, the invention provides in another embodiment, an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq. for use in selectively promoting, in an oral cavity, biofilm formation by bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to biofilm formation by pathogenic oral bacteria.

For example, the invention provides in another embodiment, an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq. for use in maintaining and/or re-establishing a healthy oral microbiota.

For example, the invention provides in another embodiment, an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq. for use in preventing one or more of gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, peri-implant mucositis, necrotizing gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis and caries.

Further provided is a method for prophylaxis or reduction of tooth decay, caries and/or gum disease, comprising contacting the oral cavity with a composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq., e.g by brushing, e.g. on a regular basis over a sufficient period of time to enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the oral cavity.

Further provided is a method for increasing the amount of beneficial endogenous bacteria in the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof comprising administering to a subject an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq., e.g., wherein the amount of saccharide prebiotic in the composition promotes the growth of beneficial endogenous bacteria, e.g., wherein the beneficial endogenous bacteria are one or more species selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii.

Further provided is a method of selectively promoting, in an oral cavity of a subject: growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria; the method comprising contacting the oral cavity with an oral care composition an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq.

Further provided is a method of selectively promoting, in an oral cavity of a subject, biofilm formation by bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to biofilm formation by pathogenic oral bacteria; the method comprising contacting the oral cavity with an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq.

Further provided is method for decreasing the amount of pathological endogenous bacteria in the oral cavity of a subject in need thereof comprising administering to a subject an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq., e.g., wherein the amount of the saccharide prebiotic in the composition inhibits the growth of pathological endogenous bacteria, e.g., wherein the pathological endogenous bacteria are one or more species selected from the group consisting of: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.

Further provided is a method of maintaining and/or re-establishing a healthy oral microbiota in a subject, the method comprising contacting an oral cavity of the subject with an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq.

Further provided is a method of preventing or mitigating one or more of gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, peri-implant mucositis, necrotizing gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis and caries in a subject, by selectively promoting, in an oral cavity of a subject: growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria, the method comprising contacting an oral cavity of the subject with an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq.

Further provided is a use of a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., in any of Compositions 1, et seq., for prophylaxis or reduction of tooth decay, caries and/or gum disease, or to enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the oral cavity, e.g., by contacting the dental surface with a an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq.

Further provided is a use of a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, in the manufacture of an oral care composition, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq., for prophylaxis or reduction of tooth decay, caries and/or gum disease, or to enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the oral cavity.

In still another aspect, the invention relates to the use of a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, in the manufacture of an oral care product, e.g., any of Compositions 1, et seq., to promote growth of beneficial indigenous (endogenous) bacteria, but not the growth of harmful bacteria.

Further provided is use, in an oral care composition (e.g. any of Composition 1, et seq.) of a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, to:

(a) selectively promote growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria;

(b) selectively promote biofilm formation by bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to biofilm formation by pathogenic oral bacteria;

(c) maintain and/or re-establish a healthy oral microbiota in a subject; or(d) prevent one or more of gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, peri-implant mucositis, necrotizing gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis and caries in a subject.

In another aspect, the invention relates to methods of screening for compounds that promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria, wherein screening steps include:

-   -   Determining the ability of a first compound (e.g., test         compound) to promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria,         while simultaneously negatively affects the growth of pathogenic         oral bacteria, e.g., comparing growth of at least one species of         beneficial oral bacteria and at least one species of pathogenic         oral bacteria, e.g., wherein effect of the first compound on         growth is measured by optical density or biofilm formation         following at least 24 hours culture in the presence and absence         of the first compound;     -   Optionally determining the ability of a second compound (e.g.,         control compound) to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria,         while simultaneously negatively affecting the growth of         pathogenic oral bacteria;     -   Optionally comparing the profile of the first compound with the         profile of the second compound;     -   Selecting a test compound for further testing based upon its         ability to promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria and         inhibit the growth of pathogenic oral bacteria, e.g., as         compared to the control compound.         For example, the control compound in the foregoing method of         screening may be a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., a saccharide         prebiotic selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol,         myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof, e.g.,         any of Compositions 1, et seq. In some embodiments, the         beneficial oral bacteria are one or more species selected from         the group consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus         salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus,         Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga         sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii. In some embodiments, the         pathogenic oral bacteria are one or more species selected from         the group consisting of: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella         intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum,         Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and         Streptococcus sobrinus. The invention further provides the use         of a compound identified in such a screening method in any of         the foregoing methods and uses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “%” or “percent” when used in connection with an ingredient of the toothpaste compositions of the invention is intended to refer to the percent by weight of the indicated ingredient in the toothpaste composition.

As used herein, “cleaning” generally refers to the removal of contaminants, dirt, impurities, and/or extraneous matter on a target surface. For example, in the context of oral surfaces, where the surface is tooth enamel, the cleaning may remove at least some of a film or stain, such as plaque biofilm, pellicle or tartar.

The terms “indigenous” and “endogenous” are used interchangeably throughout this disclosure.

The term “oral composition” is used herein to designate products which, in the ordinary course of usage, are retained in the oral cavity for a time sufficient to contact substantially all of the dental surfaces but are not intentionally ingested. Such products include, for example, dentifrices such as toothpaste and gels, mouthwashes, chewing gums and lozenges.

Saccharide prebiotics for use in the present invention are sugars or sugar derivatives, e.g., amino sugars or sugar alcohols, for example mono-, di- or tri-saccharides (including amino-saccharides and sugar alcohols) which are orally acceptable (i.e., non-toxic at relevant concentrations in an oral care formulation) and which promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria, while simultaneously negatively affecting the growth of pathogenic oral bacteria. In particular embodiments, the saccharide prebiotic is selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof. D-turanose is a disaccharide, also known as α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-fructofuranose or (3S,4R,5R)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyhexan-2-one. D-melezitose is a nonreducing trisaccharide also known as melicitose, which can be partially hydrolyzed to provide turanose and glucose. Its IUPAC name is (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(2S,3S,4R,5R)-4-hydroxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-tetrahydropyranyl]oxy]-2-tetrahydrofuranyl]oxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-3,4,5-triol. D-lactitol comprises a monosaccharide linked to a sugar alcohol. D-lactitol is also known as 4-O-α-D-galactopyranosyl-D-glucitol. Myo-inositol is a cyclohexane bearing a hydroxyl group on each carbon, and is a metabolite of glucose, having the same elemental composition (C₆H₁₂O₆). It is formally known as (1R,2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol. N-acetyl-D-mannosamine is an acetylated amino-monosaccharide, more formally known as 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise water. Water employed in the preparation of the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., should be deionized and free of organic impurities. Water may make up the balance of the oral care composition. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0 to 90 weight % water, e.g., 0.1 to 90 weight % water, e.g., 1 to 80 weight % water, e.g., 2 to 70 weight % water, 5 to 60 weight % water, e.g., 5 to 50 weight % water, e.g., 20 to 60 weight % water, e.g., 10 to 40 weight % water. This amount of water includes the free water that is added plus that amount which is introduced with other components of the oral care composition, such as with sorbitol.

A thickener provides a desirable consistency and/or stabilizes and/or enhances performance (e.g., provides desirable active release characteristics upon use) of the oral care composition. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.01 to 15 weight % of a thickener, 0.1 to 15 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 0.5 to 10 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 0.5 to 5 weight % of at a thickener, e.g., 1 to 4 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 2 to 5 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 2 to 4 weight % of a thickener, e.g., 3 to 4 weight % of a thickener. Higher weight percentages may be used for chewing gums, lozenges and breath mints, sachets, non-abrasive gels and subgingival gels. Thickeners that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, carboxyvinyl polymers, carrageenan (also known as carrageenan gum), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), natural and synthetic clays (e.g., Veegum and laponite), water soluble salts of cellulose ethers (e.g., sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and sodium carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose), natural gums (e.g., gum karaya, xanthan gum, gum arabic, and gum tragacanth), colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, silica (e.g., finely divided silica), cross-linked poly(vinyl)pyrrolidone, carbowaxes, fatty acids and salts thereof (e.g., stearic acid and palmitic acid), fatty alcohols (e.g., stearyl alcohol), and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, a mixture of thickening silica and carrageenan gum is used as the thickener in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.01 to 15 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, 0.1 to 15 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 0.5 to 10 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 0.5 to 5 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 1 to 4 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 2 to 5 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 2 to 4 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum, e.g., 3 to 4 weight % of thickening silica and carrageenan gum.

A buffer adjusts the pH of oral care compositions, for example, to a range of about pH 4.0 to about pH 6.0. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.1 to 10 weight % of a buffer, 0.5 to 10 weight % of a buffer, e.g., 0.5 to 5 weight % of a buffer, e.g., 0.5 to 4 weight % of a buffer, e.g., 0.5 to 3 weight % of a buffer, e.g., 0.5 to 2 weight % of a buffer, e.g., 1 to 2 weight % of a buffer. Buffers that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, sodium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate {e.g., monosodium phosphate (NaH2PO4), disodium phosphate (Na2HPO4), trisodium phosphate (Na3PO4)}, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, citric acid, sodium citrate, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, sodium hydroxide is used as the buffer in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.1 to 10 weight % of sodium hydroxide, e.g., 0.5 to 10 weight % of sodium hydroxide, e.g., 0.5 to 5 weight % of sodium hydroxide, e.g., 0.5 to 4 weight % of sodium hydroxide, e.g., 0.5 to 3 weight % of sodium hydroxide, e.g., 0.5 to 2 weight % of sodium hydroxide, e.g., 1 to 2 weight % of sodium hydroxide.

A humectant keeps oral care compositions from hardening upon exposure to air. Certain humectants can also impart desirable sweetness or flavor to oral care compositions. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise, on a pure humectant basis, from 0 to 70 weight % of a humectant, e.g., 10 to 70 weight % of a humectant, e.g., 10 to 65 weight % of a humectant, e.g., 10 to 60 weight % of a humectant, e.g., 10 to 50 weight % of a humectant, e.g., 20 to 50 weight % of at a humectant, e.g., 20 to 40 weight % of a humectant. Humectants that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, butylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethyl glycine, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, a mixture of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol is used as the humectant in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise, on a pure humectant basis, from 0 to 70 weight % of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol, e.g., 10 to 70 weight % of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol, e.g., 10 to 65 weight % of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol, e.g., 10 to 60 weight of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol, e.g., 10 to 50 weight % of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol, e.g., 20 to 50 weight % of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol, e.g., 20 to 40 weight % of glycerin, sorbitol, and propylene glycol.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise a surfactant, e.g., selected from anionic, cationic, zwitterionic, and nonionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the surfactant is reasonably stable throughout a wide pH range. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.01 to 10 weight % of a surfactant, e.g., 0.05 to 5 weight % of a surfactant, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of a surfactant, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of a surfactant, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % of a surfactant, e.g., 0.5 to 2 weight % of a surfactant. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.01 to 10 weight % of an anionic surfactant, e.g., 0.05 to 5 weight % of an anionic surfactant, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of an anionic surfactant, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of an anionic surfactant, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % of an anionic surfactant, e.g., 0.5 to 2 weight % of an anionic surfactant, e.g., 1.5 weight % of an anionic surfactant.

Anionic surfactants that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example,

-   -   i. water-soluble salts of higher fatty acid monoglyceride         monosulfates, such as the sodium salt of the monosulfated         monoglyceride of hydrogenated coconut oil fatty acids such as         sodium N-methyl N-cocoyl taurate, sodium cocomonoglyceride         sulfate,     -   ii. higher alkyl sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate,     -   iii. higher alkyl-ether sulfates, e.g., of formula         CH₃(CH₂)_(m)CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)_(n)OSO₃X, wherein m is 6-16, e.g., 10,         n is 1-6, e.g., 2, 3 or 4, and X is Na or K, for example sodium         laureth-2 sulfate, CH₃(CH₂)₁₀CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂OSO₃Na,     -   iv. higher alkyl aryl sulfonates such as sodium dodecyl benzene         sulfonate (sodium lauryl benzene sulfonate), and     -   v. higher alkyl sulfoacetates, such as sodium lauryl         sulfoacetate (dodecyl sodium sulfoacetate), higher fatty acid         esters of 1,2 dihydroxy propane sulfonate, sulfocolaurate         (N-2-ethyl laurate potassium sulfoacetamide) and sodium lauryl         sarcosinate.

As used herein, “higher alkyl” refers to C6-30 alkyl.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise an anionic surfactant. In some embodiments, the anionic surfactant is the water soluble salt of alkyl sulfates having from 10 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and water soluble salts of sulfonated monoglycerides of fatty acids having from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, and sodium coconut monoglyceride sulfonates are examples of anionic surfactants of that type. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium ether lauryl sulfate, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise sodium lauryl sulfate. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise from 0.01 to 10 weight % sodium lauryl sulfate, e.g., 0.05 to 5 weight % sodium lauryl sulfate, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % sodium lauryl sulfate, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % o sodium lauryl sulfate, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % sodium lauryl sulfate, e.g., 0.5 to 2 weight % sodium lauryl sulfate, e.g., 1.5 weight % sodium lauryl sulfate.

An abrasive removes debris and surface stains. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 5 to 70 weight % of an abrasive, e.g., 5 to 60 weight % of an abrasive, e.g., 5 to 50 weight % of an abrasive, e.g., 5 to 40 weight % of an abrasive, e.g., 5 to 30 weight % of an abrasive, e.g., 10 to 30 weight % of an abrasive, e.g., 10 to 20 weight % of an abrasive.

Abrasives that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, a calcium phosphate abrasive, e.g., tricalcium phosphate (Ca₃(PO₄)₂), hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂), dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO₄.2H₂O, also sometimes referred to herein as DiCal), calcium pyrophosphate, and mixtures thereof. Calcium carbonate, e.g., precipitated calcium carbonate, may also be employed as an abrasive.

Other abrasives that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, silica abrasives such as precipitated silicas having a mean particle size of up to about 20 microns, such as Zeodent 1150, marketed by J. M. Huber, as well as sodium metaphosphate, potassium metaphosphate, aluminum silicate, calcined alumina, bentonite or other siliceous materials, or mixtures thereof. Silica abrasives used herein, as well as the other abrasives, may have an average particle size ranging between about 0.1 and about 30 microns, e.g., between about 5 and about 15 microns. The silica abrasives may be from precipitated silica or silica gels, such as silica xerogels. Particular silica xerogels are marketed under the trade name Syloid® by the W. R. Grace & Co. Davison Chemical Division. Precipitated silica materials include those marketed by the J. M. Huber Corp. under the trade name Zeodent®, including the silica carrying the designation Zeodent 115 and 119.

In some embodiments, abrasives that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include silica gels and precipitated amorphous silica having an oil absorption value of about less than about 100 cc/100 g silica and in the range of about 45 cc/100 g to about 70 cc/100 g silica. Oil absorption values are measured using the ASTA Rub-Out Method D281. In some embodiments, the silica comprises colloidal particles having an average particle size of about 3 microns to about 12 microns, and about 5 to about 10 microns.

In some embodiments, the abrasive comprises a large fraction of very small particles, e.g., having a d50 less than about 5 microns, e.g., small particle silica (SPS) having a d50 of about 3 to abut 4 microns, e.g., Sorbosil AC AC43® (Ineos). Such small particles may be used in formulations targeted at reducing hypersensitivity. The small particle component may be present in combination with a second larger particle abrasive.

Low oil absorption silica abrasives that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., are marketed under the trade designation Sylodent WXA® by Davison Chemical Division of W.R. Grace & Co., Baltimore, Md. 21203. Sylodent 650 XWA®, a silica hydrogel composed of particles of colloidal silica having a water content of about 29% by weight averaging about 7 to about 10 microns in diameter, and an oil absorption of less than about 70 cc/100 g of silica is an example of a low oil absorption silica abrasive that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq.

In some embodiments, the oral care composition disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, e.g, 1.1-1.40, comprise a high cleaning silica. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 5 to 70 weight % high cleaning silica, e.g., 5 to 60 weight % high cleaning silica, e.g., 5 to 50 weight % high cleaning silica, e.g., 5 to 40 weight % high cleaning silica, e.g., 5 to 30 weight % high cleaning silica, e.g., 10 to 30 weight % high cleaning silica, e.g., 10 to 20 weight % high cleaning silica.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise a sweetener. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.005 to 10 weight % of a sweetener, e.g., 0.01 to 10 weight % of a sweetener, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of a sweetener, e.g., from 0.1 to 5 weight % of a sweetener, e.g., from 0.1 to 3 weight % of a sweetener, e.g., from 0.1 to 1 weight % of a sweetener, e.g., from 0.1 to 0.5 weight % of a sweetener. Sweeteners that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, sucrose, glucose, saccharin, sucralose, dextrose, levulose, lactose, mannitol, sorbitol, fructose, maltose, xylitol, saccharin salts (e.g., sodium saccharin), thaumatin, aspartame, D-tryptophan, dihydrochalcones, acesulfame, cyclamate salts, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, sodium saccharin is used as the sweetener in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.005 to 10 weight % sodium saccharin, e.g., 0.01 to 10 weight % sodium saccharin, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % sodium saccharin, e.g., from 0.1 to 5 weight % sodium saccharin, e.g., from 0.1 to 3 weight % sodium saccharin, e.g., from 0.1 to 1 weight % sodium saccharin, e.g., from 0.1 to 0.5 weight % sodium saccharin.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise a flavorant. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.1 to 5 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.1 to 4 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.1 to 3 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.5 to 2 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.6 to 2 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.7 to 2 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 0.8 to 2 weight % of a flavorant e.g., 0.9 to 2 weight % of a flavorant, e.g., 1 to 2 weight % of a flavorant. Flavorants that may be used in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, essential oils, as well as various flavoring aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and similar materials, as well as menthol, carvone, and anethole, as well as mixtures thereof. Examples of essential oils include oils of spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen, sassafras, clove, sage, eucalyptus, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange. In some embodiments, a mixture of peppermint oil and spearmint oil is used as the flavorant in the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise a pigment. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.001 to 20 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.01 to 20 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.01 to 20 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.1 to 20 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.1 to 3 weight % of a pigment, e.g., 0.1 to 1 weight % of a pigment. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise titanium dioxide. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.001 to 20 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.01 to 20 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.01 to 20 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.1 to 20 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.1 to 3 weight % titanium dioxide, e.g., 0.1 to 1 weight % titanium dioxide.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., further comprise an anti-caries agent. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.005 to 10 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.01 to 10 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.01 to 5 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.01 to 1 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.01 to 0.3 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 1 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 0.8 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 0.6 weight % of the anti-caries agent, e.g., 0.1 to 0.5 weight % of the anti-caries agent. In some embodiments, the anti-caries agent is a fluoride ion source. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., further comprise 0.005 to 10 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.01 to 10 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.01 to 5 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.01 to 1 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.01 to 0.3 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 1 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 0.8 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 0.6 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source, e.g., 0.1 to 0.5 weight % of the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source. Examples of fluoride ion sources that may be used in the oral compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., are found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,421 to Briner et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,155 to Parran, Jr. et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,154 to Widder et al, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Other examples of fluoride ion sources include, for example, stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium fluorosilicate, ammonium fluorosilicate, amine fluoride (e.g., N′-octadecyltrimethylendiamine-N,N,N′-tris(2-ethanol)-dihydro fluoride), ammonium fluoride, titanium fluoride, hexafluorosulfate, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments the fluoride ion source includes stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, and sodium monofluorophosphate, as well as mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the anti-caries agent is sodium fluoride. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise 0.005 to 10 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.01 to 10 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.01 to 5 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.01 to 1 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.01 to 0.3 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 10 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 5 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 2 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 1 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 0.8 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 0.6 weight % sodium fluoride, e.g., 0.1 to 0.5 weight % sodium fluoride.

In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source in an amount sufficient to supply 25 ppm to 25,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 100 to 20,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 300 to 15,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 500 to 10,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 500 to 8,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 500 to 6,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 500 to 4,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 500 to 2,000 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 500 to 1,800 ppm of fluoride ions, e.g., from 1000 to 1600 ppm, e.g., 1450 ppm of fluoride ions. The appropriate level of fluoride ions will depend on the particular application. In some embodiments, a toothpaste for consumer use comprises the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source in an amount sufficient to supply from 1,000 to 1,500 ppm of fluoride ions, with pediatric toothpaste having somewhat less. In some embodiments, a dentifrice or coating for professional application comprises the anti-caries agent which is a fluoride ion source in an amount sufficient to supply from 5,000 to 25,000 ppm of fluoride ions.

A whitening agent whitens a tooth to which it is applied. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise a whitening agent. In some embodiments, the oral care compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., comprise a whitening agent in a dental surface-whitening effective amount, e.g., 0.1 to 90 weight % whitening agent, e.g., 0.5 to 50 weight % whitening agent, e.g., 1 to 30 weight % whitening agent, e.g., 2 to 10 weight % whitening agent. Examples of whitening agents that may be used in the oral compositions disclosed herein, e.g., Composition 1, et seq., include, for example, peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the whitening agent is hydrogen peroxide or a hydrogen peroxide source, for example, urea peroxide or a peroxide salt or complex (for example, peroxyphosphate, peroxycarbonate, perborate, peroxysilicate, or persulphate salts; for example calcium peroxyphosphate, sodium perborate, sodium carbonate peroxide, sodium peroxyphosphate, and potassium persulfate), or a hydrogen peroxide polymer complex (for example, a peroxide-polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer complex).

The following examples are further illustrative of the nature of the present invention, but it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. All amounts and proportions referred to herein and in the appended claims are by weight, unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Microarray Screen

The metabolic activity of various beneficial oral bacteria and pathogenic oral bacteria in the presence of the saccharides D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine was investigated.

The beneficial oral bacteria tested were Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Actinomyces naeslundii and Veillonella parvula. The pathogenic oral bacteria tested were Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus sobrinus.

Substrates that were able to increase the metabolic activity of at least one of the above beneficial bacteria while not or only minimally increasing the growth of the pathogenic bacteria are considered to be prebiotic substrates.

The extent of metabolic activity of the tested bacteria in the presence of the above-mentioned saccharides after 24 hours and 48 hours was investigated through a high throughput phenotype microarray system (PM) for microbial cells (Biolog Inc.). Each PM can contain up to 95 different biochemical compounds (e.g. saccharides) that may act as substrates for bacteria as well as one negative control, not containing the substrates. Microarray plates were used in which the different wells of each plate were pre-loaded (by the manufacturer, Biolog Inc.) with different saccharides to be tested. Each bacterial species was tested using a separate microarray plate. Thus, a single bacterial species was tested with a variety of saccharides on each particular plate. The microarrays are based on redox technology, using cell respiration as a universal reporter. Active cell respiration results in the reduction of a tetrazolium dye and in the formation of a strong color—for example, when using the tetrazolium dye “Biolog Redox Dye Mix D”, the color changes from transparent/colorless to purple when the dye is reduced. The observation of this color change indicates which of the substrates improve the metabolic activity and health of the cells.

Each bacterial species was collected from blood agar plates (incubated for 48 hours anaerobically at 37° C.) and transferred to an IF-0 Base inoculation fluid (Biolog Inc.), which is a nutritionally poor medium. The resulting cell suspension was adjusted to a transmittance of 42% (relative to the transmittance of the base inoculation fluid with no bacterial species present) at 492 nm using a BioRad SmartSpec 3000 Photometer (the adjustment being effected by adding either further inoculation fluid or further bacteria until the transmittance of 42% was achieved). A 1:5 dilution of this suspension was prepared by mixing 3 mL of the 42% transmittance cell suspension with 15 mL of an inoculation fluid (which inoculation fluid was formed by mixing 11.6 mL sterile water, 62.5 mL IF-0 base inoculation fluid and 0.9 mL of the tetrazolium dye “Biolog Redox Dye mix D”), resulting in a final cell density which was equal to 85% transmittance using a BioRad SmartSpec 3000 Photometer. For each of the saccharides tested, the microarray plate (obtained from the supplier (Biolog Inc.) with saccharides already present in the relevant wells in powder form) was directly inoculated with 100 μL/well of this 85% transmittance cell suspension.

All plates were incubated in an anaerobic atmosphere at 37° C. Color changes were measured spectrophotometrically at 492 nm (Thermo Scientific Multiskan Ascent) at 24 hrs and 48 hrs using the same plate at both time points. For each bacterium tested, a respective control was also used, the control being a well of the plate which contained the particular bacterium (cell suspension) but did not contain any saccharides. After 24 hrs and 48 hrs under continuous shaking in a Multiscan microplate reader, the optical density (OD) of the synthetic medium at 24 hours and 48 hours was measured (using the microplate reader) at a wavelength of 492 nm for each combination of bacterium/saccharide, and for each of their respective controls (i.e. which contained the particular bacterium but no saccharide). For each bacterium, the OD value obtained at 24 hrs and at 48 hrs was divided by the OD value obtained for the respective control at 24 hrs and 48 hrs (respectively), so that the control had a value of 1. A value greater than 1 for a particular combination of bacterium with saccharide therefore indicates that the increase in metabolic activity of the bacteria after 24 hrs or 48 hrs was greater than the increase observed for the control.

The experiment was carried out three times for each combination of bacterium with saccharide, with each repeat being carried out on a different day (thus providing three biological replicas). The controls were also carried out three times, as above. The values shown are the average (mean) of the three single values obtained (as detailed above) for each combination of bacterium with saccharide, at 24 hrs and at 48 hrs. The results are shown in Tables 1 to 4, below:

TABLE 1 Pathogenic bacteria at 24 hrs A F P P T S S actino** nucleatu gingivalis intermedi forsythia mutans sobrinus Myo-Inositol 1.3215 0.9063 0.8077 1.0174 0.9597 0.8961 0.9699 D-Lactitol 0.8916 0.9115 0.8216 0.9834 1.0703 2.0160 1.4178 D-Turanose 1.0170 1.3517 0.8165 1.1121 1.0435 1.4769 1.6552 N-Acetyl-Beta-D- 1.7369 1.0897 0.7968 0.9878 0.9666 1.0429 1.1993 Mannosamine D-Melezitose 0.8425 0.9719 0.7783 1.0189 1.0374 1.0420 1.1016 **A actinomycetemcomitans

TABLE 2 Beneficial bacteria at 24 hrs A C S A S S V S naeslundi sputigena gordonii viscosus salivarius sanguinis parvula mitis Myo-Inositol 3.8627 0.5471 0.8556 4.3733 0.9641 0.9436 1.0283 1.0571 D-Lactitol 2.4399 0.9032 1.5368 4.2553 4.7396 1.0364 0.8079 1.0047 D-Turanose 2.1636 0.9893 1.7899 2.2260 1.1489 1.3458 0.8743 1.2969 N-Acetyl-Beta-D- 1.4397 1.1116 1.6021 0.9778 1.0589 2.9770 0.9189 3.4298 Mannosamine D-Melezitose 1.5398 0.5937 1.0421 1.7502 1.0195 1.0227 0.9056 1.1736

TABLE 3 Pathogenic bacteria at 48 hrs A F P P T S S actino** nucleatu gingivalis intermedi forsythia mutans sobrinus Myo-Inositol 1.5191 0.8999 0.7871 1.0226 0.9564 0.8221 0.9399 D-Lactitol 0.8237 0.7913 1.0092 0.9481 1.1172 2.7520 1.3908 D-Turanose 1.2549 1.6086 0.7822 1.2058 1.1254 2.1955 1.8299 N-Acetyl-Beta-D- 2.1360 1.0886 0.8296 0.9805 0.9443 1.0176 1.1453 Mannosamine D-Melezitose 0.7710 0.8307 0.7811 0.9864 0.9912 0.9402 1.0504 **A actinomycetemcomitans

TABLE 4 Beneficial bacteria at 48 hrs A C S A S S V S naeslundi sputigena gordonii viscosus salivarius sanguinis parvula mitis Myo-Inositol 4.5573 0.8107 0.8202 4.6590 0.8260 1.0400 1.0829 0.9877 D-Lactitol 3.3992 1.0097 1.7842 4.9364 5.1101 1.0188 0.6786 0.9006 D-Turanose 2.7551 1.0899 2.1615 3.0809 1.2834 1.5207 0.7770 1.3856 N-Acetyl-Beta-D- 1.7022 1.0780 2.3739 1.0151 0.9795 3.0358 0.9284 3.0447 Mannosamine D-Melezitose 2.0357 0.9124 0.9733 2.9576 0.9869 1.0532 0.7447 1.0570

In the above data, a value of 2 was taken as the threshold above which the saccharides caused markedly increased metabolic activity of the bacterium. This value was selected in order to exclude low-stimulating metabolites and avoid false positive results.

As can be seen from the above data, D-turanose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine exhibited prebiotic effects at 24 hrs, and D-melezitose, myo-inositol, exhibited prebiotic effects at 48 hrs. Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that those substrates which exhibit prebiotic effects at 48 hrs may provide beneficial effects to the oral cavity upon prolonged use.

As D-turanose and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine are metabolized faster by the beneficial bacteria than by the pathogenic bacteria (shown by a value of 2 in the above data sets being reached at 24 hrs for the beneficial bacteria but not for the pathogenic bacteria), the presence of D-turanose and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine would be expected to cause the beneficial bacteria to suppress the growth of the pathogenic bacteria within a short timescale, thus maintaining a healthy oral microbiota. As D-turanose and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine are metabolized faster by the beneficial bacteria than by the pathogenic bacteria, these saccharides are consumed/metabolized (and thus taken out of the environment) by the beneficial bacteria before the pathogenic bacteria can start using them. Without being bound by any theory, it is believed that the stimulatory effect of D-turanose and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine on the pathogenic bacteria as seen at 48 hrs might be abolished when a mixture of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria is present (such as in the oral cavity), as these saccharide substrates have already been metabolized by the beneficial bacteria and are therefore unavailable for use by the pathogenic bacteria. Thus, if the growth/metabolic activity/colonization of the beneficial bacteria is stimulated before that of the pathogenic bacteria, then the beneficial bacteria can multiply and exert an inhibitory effect on the pathogenic bacteria before the latter have the chance to grow/multiply.

Regarding D-lactitol (which can be considered as a sweetener with low cariogenicity—see, for example, Grenby et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 1989, 61, 17-24), although there is an increase in metabolic activity of the pathogenic bacterium S. mutans at 24 hrs, this can be considered to be a borderline increase (being only just over the threshold of “2”). It is also noted that a marked increase in metabolic activity of the beneficial bacteria A. naeslundii, A. viscosus and S.salivarius (particularly A. viscosus and S.salivarius) is also seen with D-lactitol at 24 hrs. As shown below in Examples 2 and 3, D-lactitol does not stimulate growth of S.mutans or its biofilm formation. In light of this, D-lactitol was still considered to be prebiotic.

Example 2 Twenty-Four Hour Optical Density

The extent of growth of various beneficial oral and pathogenic oral bacteria in the presence of the saccharides D-turanose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, as examples, was investigated.

The beneficial oral bacteria tested were Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Actinomyces naeslundii and Veillonella parvula. The pathogenic oral bacteria tested were Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus sobrinus.

Substrates that were able to increase the growth (or maximal growth density or extent of growth) of at least one of the above beneficial bacteria while not or only minimally increasing the growth (or maximal growth density) of the pathogenic bacteria are considered to be prebiotic compounds.

The extent of growth of the tested bacteria in response to selected saccharides (myo-inositol, D-lactitol, D-turanose and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine) was investigated by setting up growth curves in a nutritionally rich medium (brain heart infusion broth (BHI), Oxoid), over 24 hours. Late exponential growth phase liquid cultures were prepared by transferring the respective bacterium from blood agar plates to BHI and overnight incubation at 37° C. in an anaerobic atmosphere for A. viscosus, V. parvula, F. nucleatum, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, T. forsythia, A. naeslundii, and C. sputigena, and in a 5% CO₂ environment for S. salivarius, S. sanguinis, S. mitis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, S. mutans, S. sobrinus and S. gordonii. Overnight cultures were transferred to BHI and adjusted to a concentration of 1×10⁷ CFU/ml (colony forming units per ml) by measuring the optical density at 600 nm (OD₆₀₀) (BioRad SmartSpec 3000). For each strain, 200 μl of the bacterial suspension was added to a 96-well plate containing 20 μl of the respective saccharides. Final concentrations of the saccharides were set to 5, 10, 20 and 25 μmol/ml. For each bacterium tested, a respective control was also used, which did not contain the saccharides. Plates were incubated as previously described.

For each combination of bacterium/saccharide, and for each of their respective controls (i.e. the particular bacterium in the nutritionally rich medium with no saccharide), the optical density was measured at 630 nm (OD₆₃₀) at 0 h and 24 h (Thermo Scientific Multiskan Ascent). Additionally, the OD₆₃₀ for combinations of bacterium/saccharides grown in a 5% CO₂ environment were also measured every hour between 0 h and 9 h. For each combination of bacterium/saccharide, the maximal OD value obtained over the 24 hr time period was divided by the maximal OD value obtained for the respective control over the 24 hr period, so that the control had a value of 1. A value greater than 1 for a particular combination of bacterium with saccharide therefore indicates that the extent of bacterial growth over 24 hrs was greater than extent of bacterial growth over 24 hrs for the control.

The experiment was carried out on three different days (thus providing 3 biological replicas) and on each day the experiment was carried out in quadruple (thus providing 4 technical replicas) for each combination of bacterium with saccharide and for each control. For each day and for each combination, the average (mean) of the values obtained (as detailed above) for the four technical replicas was calculated to provide a single value for each combination on each day. The values shown in Tables 5a,b to 6a,b, below, are the average (mean) of the three single values obtained for each combination of bacterium with saccharide. The results are shown in Tables 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, below:

TABLE 5a Pathogenic bacteria over 24 hours myo- myo- myo- myo- D- D- D- D- Inositol Inositol Inositol Inositol Lactitol Lactitol Lactitol Lactitol 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A actino* 0.7361 0.7396 0.7107 0.6977 0.7095 0.6952 0.7052 0.7044 F nucleatum 0.9518 0.9512 0.9489 0.9430 0.8805 0.9034 0.9482 0.9876 P gingivalis 0.9855 0.9758 1.0126 1.0200 1.0115 0.9706 0.9989 0.9615 P intermedia 0.9158 0.9230 0.9564 0.9519 0.9036 0.9185 0.9210 0.9178 S mutans 0.9449 0.9645 1.0553 1.1065 0.9149 0.9036 0.9230 0.9466 S sobrinus 0.9224 0.9087 0.9360 0.9301 1.0163 1.0335 1.0189 1.0650 T forsythia 0.9460 0.9286 0.9359 0.9323 0.9367 0.9426 0.9434 0.9351 *A actinomycetemcomitans

TABLE 5b Pathogenic bacteria over 24 hours D- D- D- D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- Turanose Turanose Turanose Turanose mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A actino* 0.8368 0.8672 0.8318 0.7962 0.8614 0.9405 0.9102 1.0637 F nucleatum 0.9348 0.9285 0.9456 0.9458 0.9193 0.9564 0.8477 0.9065 P gingivalis 0.9574 0.9183 0.9601 0.9385 0.9419 0.9137 0.8427 0.8020 P intermedia 0.9664 1.0407 1.1312 1.1488 1.0494 1.0229 1.0261 0.9530 S mutans 0.9121 0.9244 0.9829 1.0547 0.8283 0.8300 0.8670 0.8669 S sobrinus 1.0760 1.0466 1.1323 1.1731 0.7857 0.7737 0.7794 0.9307 T forsythia 0.9298 0.9299 0.9445 0.9443 0.9451 0.9706 0.9715 0.9742 *A actinomycetemcomitans

TABLE 6a Beneficial bacteria over 24 hours myo- myo- myo- myo- Inositol Inositol Inositol Inositol D-Lactitol D-Lactitol D-Lactitol D-Lactitol 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A naeslundii 1.0000 1.0051 1.0190 1.0172 1.0686 1.0688 1.0334 1.0156 C sputigena 0.8789 0.8545 0.8749 0.8701 0.8337 0.8416 0.8742 0.8996 S gordonii 0.9954 0.9751 0.9732 0.9888 1.0101 0.9931 0.9945 0.9828 A viscosus 0.7647 0.8079 0.8574 0.8442 1.0300 1.0275 0.9554 0.8614 S salivarius 0.8905 0.9136 0.9395 0.9359 1.3159 1.3431 1.3489 1.1349 S sanguinis 0.9077 0.8540 0.9536 0.9429 0.9393 0.9356 0.9323 0.8901 V parvula 0.8933 0.8987 0.9049 0.9050 0.9054 0.8909 0.8854 0.8722 S mitis 0.8423 0.8975 0.9622 0.9921 0.8839 0.9151 0.9020 0.8694

TABLE 6b Beneficial bacteria over 24 hours D- D- D- D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- Turanose Turanose Turanose Turanose mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A naeslundii 0.9441 0.9443 0.9561 0.9281 0.8535 0.9716 0.8708 0.9820 C sputigena 0.9630 0.9558 0.9629 0.9568 0.9554 0.9576 0.9635 0.9620 S gordonii 1.0226 1.0248 1.0491 1.0397 1.0015 0.9827 1.0254 0.9930 A viscosus 0.2348 0.2558 0.3079 0.3631 0.8824 0.9225 0.8753 0.8017 S salivarius 0.9445 0.9401 0.9662 0.9483 0.9251 0.8460 0.8849 0.8639 S sanguinis 0.7991 0.8262 0.8356 0.8399 0.8122 0.8219 0.8644 0.8350 V parvula 1.0049 0.9904 0.9980 1.0000 1.0213 1.0466 1.0174 1.0227 S mitis 1.2710 1.3589 1.4274 1.4244 1.7409 1.7155 1.3866 1.3409

In the above data, a value of 1.25 was taken as the threshold above which the saccharide caused markedly increased extent of growth of the bacterium relative to the control. This value was selected in order to exclude low-stimulating metabolites and avoid false positive results.

As can be seen from the above data, D-turanose and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine exhibited prebiotic effects at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 25 μmol/ml. D-lactitol exhibited prebiotic effects at concentrations of 10, 20 and 25 μmol/ml.

Example 3 Twenty-Four Hour Biofilm Growth

The effects of the saccharides D-turanose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, as examples, upon biofilm growth of various beneficial oral bacteria and pathogenic oral bacteria, was also investigated.

Substrates that were able to increase the biofilm mass of at least one of the above beneficial bacteria while not or only minimally increasing the biofilm mass of the pathogenic bacteria are considered to be prebiotic compounds.

The increase in biofilm formation of the tested bacteria in response to selected saccharides (D-turanose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine) was investigated by setting up biofilm growth assays in a nutritionally rich medium (brain heart infusion broth (BHI), Oxoid), over 24 hours. Late exponential growth phase liquid cultures were prepared by transferring the respective bacterium from blood agar plates to BHI and overnight incubation at 37° C. in an anaerobic atmosphere for A. viscosus, V. parvula, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, T. forsythia, A. naeslundii, and C. sputigena, and in a 5% CO₂ environment for S. salivarius, S. sanguinis, S. mitis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, S. mutans, and S. gordonii. Overnight cultures were transferred to BHI and adjusted to a concentration of 1×10⁷ CFU/ml by measuring the optical density at 600 nm (OD₆₀₀) (BioRad SmartSpec 3000). For each strain, 200 μl of the bacterial suspension was added to a 96-well plate containing 20 μl of the respective saccharides. Final concentrations of the saccharides were set to 5, 10, 20 and 25 μmol/ml. For each bacterium tested, a respective control was also used, which did not contain the saccharides. Additionally, for each bacterium tested, a background control, to correct for background staining, was added. This background control contained the bacterium tested and 0.03 weight % chlorhexidine, as an antiseptic. Plates were incubated as previously described. After 24 hrs the supernatant was removed from the wells of the plates. The wells were washed twice with 1×100 μL PBS (phosphate buffered saline), fixed for 20 minutes with 96% vol. ethanol (96% vol. solution in water) and the biofilm retained at the bottom of the wells was stained with 1 weight % crystal violet (1 weight % solution in water). The bound dye was dissolved with 5% vol. acetic acid (5% vol. solution in water). Quantification of the stained biofilm was performed by measuring the absorbance at 630 nm using a Multiskan Ascent microplate reader (Thermo Scientific).

For each combination of bacterium/saccharide, the OD value obtained at 24 hrs was divided by the OD value obtained for the respective control after subtracting the OD value of the background control, so that the control had a value of 1. A value greater than 1 for a particular combination of bacterium with saccharide therefore indicates that the biofilm growth over 24 hrs was greater than the biofilm growth over 24 hrs for the control.

The experiment was carried out on three different days (thus providing 3 biological replicas) and each day the experiment was carried out in quadruple (thus providing 4 technical replicas) for each combination of bacterium with saccharide and for each control. For each day and for each combination, the average (mean) of the values obtained (as detailed above) for the four technical replicas was calculated to provide a single value for each combination on each day. The values shown in Tables 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, below, are the average (mean) of the three single values obtained for each combination of bacterium with saccharide. The results are shown in Tables 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, below:

TABLE 7a Pathogenic bacteria at 24 hours myo- myo- myo- myo- D- D- D- D- Inositol Inositol Inositol Inositol Lactitol Lactitol Lactitol Lactitol 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A actino* 0.9898 0.9661 0.8378 0.8323 0.8372 0.8502 0.6496 0.6593 P gingivalis 1.0290 0.9448 0.9657 0.9325 0.9701 0.8995 0.9616 0.9536 P intermedia 1.0417 1.1660 1.2210 1.1539 1.1288 1.1500 1.0396 1.0504 S mutans 1.4107 1.1995 1.0152 0.9177 1.0108 1.1068 0.9333 0.9767 T forsythia 0.6940 0.7688 0.6396 0.6841 0.6158 0.7398 0.5942 0.5843 *A actinomycetemcomitans

TABLE 7b Pathogenic bacteria at 24 hours D- D- D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- Turanose Turanose Turanose D- mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine 25 20 10 Turanose 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A actino* 0.9417 1.0297 0.9794 0.9734 0.7158 0.6532 1.0569 0.9519 P gingivalis 0.9613 0.9602 0.8700 0.9121 0.8345 0.7270 0.8031 0.6683 P intermedia 1.1725 1.5017 1.8143 2.0059 1.2252 1.0689 1.5179 1.1437 S mutans 1.1529 1.1403 1.1168 1.0356 0.6922 0.7015 0.8329 0.8572 T forsythia 0.8404 0.7855 0.9297 0.8918 0.5433 0.4562 0.9745 0.6028 *A actinomycetemcomitans

TABLE 8a Beneficial bacteria over 24 hours myo- myo- myo- myo- D- D- D- D- Inositol Inositol Inositol Inositol Lactitol Lactitol Lactitol Lactitol 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A naeslundii 1.0456 1.0270 1.0353 1.0309 1.0428 1.0337 1.0015 1.0191 C sputigena 0.8233 0.9758 0.9522 0.9276 0.7591 0.6841 0.5658 0.5867 S gordonii 0.6716 0.6650 0.6384 0.6178 0.5149 0.4885 0.5959 0.6036 A viscosus 0.8167 0.8117 0.8735 0.8136 0.9153 0.9528 0.7502 0.6832 S salivarius 0.8202 0.8119 0.9694 0.8358 6.4158 5.5726 4.8849 2.1471 S sanguinis 2.1240 2.1878 2.3658 2.4209 2.2341 1.8523 1.5548 1.2160 V parvula 1.0399 1.0036 1.1121 1.0021 0.9859 0.9658 1.0212 1.0022 S mitis 1.1357 1.1754 1.0616 1.2433 0.8340 0.8007 0.5919 0.6696

TABLE 8b Beneficial bacteria over 24 hours D- D- D- D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- N-acetyl-D- Turanose Turanose Turanose Turanose mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine mannosamine 25 20 10 5 25 20 10 5 μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml μmol/ml A naeslundii 1.4411 1.4348 1.4372 1.5849 1.2220 1.1823 1.4302 1.3056 C sputigena 0.9464 0.9130 0.9387 0.9429 0.8822 0.8871 0.9323 0.9108 S gordonii 1.2536 1.1002 1.1335 1.0874 0.6746 0.5487 1.0041 0.7178 A viscosus 0.0366 0.0289 0.0920 0.1692 0.6492 0.5093 0.9165 0.8126 S salivarius 0.8731 0.8441 0.9793 0.9812 0.3520 0.3314 0.6824 0.6489 S sanguinis 1.9363 1.6356 2.7352 2.0761 1.0289 0.5600 2.4890 1.5651 V parvula 1.3055 1.4942 1.3941 1.2298 0.3718 0.1297 1.0958 0.3811 S mitis 0.3988 0.5236 1.5717 1.9433 3.0078 2.1524 4.2456 2.4328

In the above data, a value of 1.6 was taken as the threshold above which the saccharide caused markedly increased biofilm growth of the bacterium relative to the control. This value was selected in order to exclude low-stimulating metabolites and avoid false positive results

As can be seen from the above data, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, and N-acetyl-D-mannosamine exhibited prebiotic effects at concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 25 μmol/ml. D-turanose, exhibited prebiotic effects at concentrations of 20 and 25 μmol/ml.

Example 4 Compositions Comprising Saccharide Prebiotic

A toothpaste comprising a saccharide prebiotic, e.g., D-turanose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, or N-acetyl-D-mannosamine, is prepared using the following ingredients:

Ingredient % 70% Sorbitol 20 Glycerin 20 Water Q.S. High Cleaning Silica 10 Gantrez S-97 15 Abrasive Silica 8.8 Thickening Silica 2.7 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 1.5 Sodium Hydroxide 0-1.2 Sodium CMC - Type 12 1.1 Flavor 1-1.2 Titanium Dioxide 0.75 Propylene Glycol 0.5 Carrageenan Gum 0.48 Sodium Saccharin 0.3 Saccharide prebiotic 1

Another toothpaste comprising a saccharide prebiotic is prepared using the following ingredients:

Ingredient % 70% Sorbitol 14 Glycerin 17 Water Q.S. High Cleaning Silica 17 Gantrez S-97 17 Thickening Silica 2.7 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 1.5 Sodium Hydroxide 0-1.2 Sodium CMC - Type 12 1.1 Xanthan Gum 0.8 Flavor 1-1.2 Titanium Dioxide 0.5 Propylene Glycol 0.5 Carrageenan Gum 0.48 Sodium Saccharin 0.3 Sodium Fluoride 0.243 Saccharide prebiotic 0.5 

1. An oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic for use in selectively promoting, in an oral cavity: growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria.
 2. An oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic for use in selectively promoting, in an oral cavity, biofilm formation by bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to biofilm formation by pathogenic oral bacteria.
 3. An oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic for use in maintaining and/or re-establishing a healthy oral microbiota.
 4. An oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic for use in preventing or mitigating one or more of gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, peri-implant mucositis, necrotizing gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis and caries in a subject in need thereof, by selectively promoting in the oral cavity of the subject the growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria.
 5. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof.
 6. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the amount of saccharide prebiotic is 0.1% to 5% by weight of the composition.
 7. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is not derived from a plant extract.
 8. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition promotes the growth in the oral cavity of one or more beneficial endogenous bacterial species, wherein said species are one or more selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii.
 9. The composition according to claim 1 wherein the composition negatively affects the growth in the oral cavity of one or more pathogenic bacterial species, wherein said species are one or more selected from the group consisting of: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.
 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises at least one species of bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health.
 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the species of bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is selected from Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Actinomyces naeslundii and combinations thereof.
 12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a mouthwash, toothpaste, tooth gel, tooth powder, non-abrasive gel, mousse, foam, mouth spray, lozenge, oral tablet, dental implement, or pet care product.
 13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is a toothpaste further comprising water, abrasive, surfactant, humectant, thickener, and flavoring.
 14. A method for selectively promoting, in an oral cavity: growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria, comprising administering to the oral cavity an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic.
 15. A method for selectively promoting, in an oral cavity, biofilm formation by bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to biofilm formation by pathogenic oral bacteria, comprising administering to the oral cavity an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic.
 16. A method for preventing or mitigating one or more of gingivitis, periodontitis, peri-implantitis, peri-implant mucositis, necrotizing gingivitis, necrotizing periodontitis and caries in a subject in need thereof, by selectively promoting in the oral cavity of the subject the growth, metabolic activity or colonization of bacteria that have beneficial effects on oral health, relative to growth, metabolic activity or colonization of pathogenic oral bacteria, comprising administering to the oral cavity an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic.
 17. The method of claim 14 comprising contacting the oral cavity with a composition comprising administering to the oral cavity an oral care composition comprising an effective amount of at least one saccharide prebiotic on a regular basis over a sufficient period of time to enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the oral cavity.
 18. The method of claim 14 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is selected from D-turanose, D-melezitose, D-lactitol, myo-inositol, N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and mixtures thereof.
 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the amount of saccharide prebiotic in the oral care composition is 0.1% to 5% by weight of the composition.
 20. The method of claim 14 wherein the saccharide prebiotic is not derived from a plant extract.
 21. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition promotes the growth in the oral cavity of one or more beneficial endogenous bacterial species, wherein said species are one or more selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii.
 22. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition negatively affects the growth in the oral cavity of one or more pathogenic bacterial species, wherein said species are one or more selected from the group consisting of: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus.
 23. The method of claim 14, wherein the composition further comprises at least one species of bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the species of bacteria that has beneficial effects on oral health is selected from Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena, Actinomyces naeslundii and combinations thereof
 25. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition is a mouthwash, toothpaste, tooth gel, tooth powder, non-abrasive gel, mousse, foam, mouth spray, lozenge, oral tablet, dental implement, or pet care product.
 26. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition is a toothpaste further comprising water, abrasive, surfactant, humectant, thickener, and flavoring.
 27. A method for screening for compounds that promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria, wherein screening steps include: (i) determining the ability of a first compound to promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria, while simultaneously negatively affects the growth of pathogenic oral bacteria, and (ii) selecting a test compound for further testing based upon its ability to promote the growth of beneficial oral bacteria and inhibit the growth of pathogenic oral bacteria.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein step (i) comprises comparing growth of at least one species of beneficial oral bacteria and at least one species of pathogenic oral bacteria, wherein effect of the first compound on growth is measured by optical density or biofilm formation following at least 24 hours culture in the presence and absence of the first compound.
 29. The method of claim 27 wherein the beneficial oral bacteria are one or more species selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus gordonii, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Actinomyces naeslundii; and the pathogenic oral bacteria are one or more species selected from the group consisting of: Streptococcus mutans, Prevotella intermedia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Streptococcus sobrinus. 